I think my mother, Arminta Gordon met my dad, Ether Wellington Richins, in Red Rock, New Mexico. They may actually have met in Virden, New Mexico, because I remember my mother talking about traveling to Virden for a church meeting and I believe her mother, my grandmother, Alice Gordon was going to a church meeting (probably Baptist) in Red Rock. The river was up so high she couldn’t cross it, so she went to the Mormon church with my Grandpa Horace Gordon and my mom. Grandma Alice Gordon converted soon thereafter, and joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Ether and Arminta were married in Thatcher, Arizona February 26, 1924. (I think they were married by President Spencer W. Kimball’s father.) I believe they were sealed in the Mesa Arizona Temple in May 1928. They had three children: Ether Wellington, Jr. (Billy), born February 3, 1925; Alice Orene, born November 26, 1928; and me, Rachel Lorraine, September 16, 1930. From the three children were born 21 grandchildren.

Living a Pioneer Childhood

My father told us about some of his childhood. He was the next to youngest of Orson Oriel & Rachel Richins. He was was born in Colonia Diaz, Chihuahua, Mexico on October 14, 1902. They were run out of Mexico in 1912 by the “Red Flaggers” (Mexican revolutionaries that were associated with Pancho Villa) when he was about 9 years old. His family fled to the United States, entering at the Corner Ranch in southwestern New Mexico.

He got his early start as a pioneer when the family started a homestead in the Hatchet Valley south of Hachita, New Mexico after fleeing the Red Flaggers. The homestead was about three miles west of the Mexican border. Father said he always carried a rifle when he was sent out to do chores, or travel on horseback or in a wagon . The bandits were always a threat. Shortly after their arrival in the United States, my dad climbed a small hill behind a ranch house and found some pretty flowers he wanted to pick for his mother. They were the cactus blossoms. He gathered them into his shirt and carried them down the hill to give to his mother. He said there were many mothers assisting Grandma Richins in removing all the cactus thorns from him.

Father was sent to school on the Corner Ranch and traveled there by wagon or horseback. The school was right on the international border. There were 17 pupils in classes from the first through the eighth grades. He later was boarded with the teacher, Elmer Johnson, and his wife and two children. He spent one year in that school before his mother, and the children, moved to Hachita, New Mexico. Grandpa Richins (Orson Oriel), and his oldest son Orson remained on the farm.

Grandpa & Grandma Richins (Rachel) were very devout Mormons, and they took the family to church every Sunday. This required a trip of about 20 miles each way. It took 2½ to 3 hours to drive the distance in a light wagon. They had a cover for the wagon for stormy weather. Church began at 10:00 A.M., which required them to leave their home by 7 A.M. They later bought a Model T Ford and could get there in an hour. They did not have a spare tire so they carried a hand pump and patching material in case of a flat.

A drought finally drove the family from the farm. Grandpa Richins sold out to the Hatchet Cattle Company. They moved to Virden and bought a farm where water was available from the Gila River. Many of their friends from Mexico had already settled in the Virden valley.

Ether was always interested in mechanics. He was also very curious. Aunt Ena Mitchel told us about the time he found a watch (either belonging to a guest or his big brother, Orson) on the dresser and he literally wanted to see what made it tick. He took it apart and put it back together again. I think he was in big trouble. Aunt Ena was really worried for her brother, because I think she was his lookout. She kept telling him he was really going to get into trouble. I do not know if there were any consequences.